Catch mechanism for a locking device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a catch mechanism for blocking a bolt to prevent unauthorized opening of a door, the catch mechanism comprising a follower for operating a bolt between a locked state in which the bolt is extended and an unlocked state in which the bolt is retracted; a catch configured to block the follower for preventing movement of the bolt in the locked state, and a control member for operating the follower and the catch, The invention also relates to a locking device comprising such a catch mechanism.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A locking device ( 1 ) comprising
 a hook bolt ( 61 ) arranged on a bolt pivot ( 611 ) and comprising hook bolt connectors ( 612 ); and 
 a catch mechanism ( 10 ,  10 ′) for blocking a bolt to prevent unauthorized opening of a door, comprising 
 a follower ( 23 ) for operating the hook bolt ( 61 ) between a locked state in which the hook bolt is pivotally extended and an unlocked state in which the hook bolt is pivotally retracted, said follower ( 23 ) comprising follower connectors ( 231 ) pivotally engaging the hook bolt connectors ( 612 ) such that said hook bolt ( 61 ) and follower ( 23 ) are mounted to pivot in opposite directions from one another; 
 a catch ( 22 ) configured to only block the follower ( 23 ) for preventing movement of the hook bolt in the locked state and not directly contact the hook bolt ( 61 ); and 
 a control member ( 21 ) for operating the follower ( 23 ) and the catch ( 22 ); 
 
       wherein
 the catch mechanism ( 10 ,  10 ′) further comprises 
 a first connector ( 71 ) for connecting the control member ( 21 ) to the catch ( 22 ) and operating the catch, the first connector ( 71 ) comprising a first contact surface ( 711 ) on the control member and a second contact surface ( 712 ) on the catch ( 22 ), and 
 a second connector ( 81 ) for connecting the control member ( 21 ) to the follower ( 23 ) and operating the follower ( 23 ) during movement of the control member ( 21 ) along a path, the second connector ( 81 ) comprises an opening ( 812 ) and a protrusion ( 811 ) extending into the opening ( 812 ), the opening ( 812 ) being larger than the protrusion ( 811 ) so that a play is formed in which the protrusion ( 811 ) is able to move without contacting a wall of the opening ( 812 ), and one of the opening ( 812 ) and the protrusion ( 811 ) is arranged on the control member ( 21 ) and the other is arranged on the follower ( 23 ), and 
 the second connector ( 81 ) comprises the play so that the control member ( 21 ) at a first portion of the path operates only the catch ( 22 ) for moving from a locking position to an open position for unblocking the follower ( 23 ), and the control member ( 21 ) at a second portion of said path operates the follower ( 23 ) for moving the hook bolt ( 61 ) from the locked state to the unlocked state, and additionally comprising 
 a cylinder ( 31 ) arranged to transfer movement to the control member ( 21 ), said cylinder ( 31 ) having teeth ( 311 ), 
 a wheel ( 51 ) having teeth ( 511 ) arranged to cooperate with the cylinder teeth ( 311 ), and 
 said control member ( 21 ) having rack ( 211 ) with teeth arranged to engage the teeth ( 511 ) of the wheel ( 51 ), 
 such that rotary movement of the cylinder ( 31 ) is transferred into linear movement of the control member ( 21 ) to lock or unlock the catch mechanism ( 10 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The locking device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising an inner housing ( 11 ) in which at least the catch ( 22 ) and the control member ( 21 ) are arranged. 
     
     
       3. The locking device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the catch ( 22 ) is biased towards the follower ( 23 ), and the control member ( 21 ) operates the catch ( 22 ) by pushing it against the bias by means of the first connector ( 71 ). 
     
     
       4. The locking device ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein one of the first and second contact surfaces ( 711 ,  712 ) of the first connector ( 71 ) is a curved surface or an inclined surface that is preferably arranged at a first angle (a) to the path, and the catch ( 22 ) is biased towards the control member ( 21 ), so that a movement of the control member ( 21 ) along the path in a first direction (A) pushes the catch ( 22 ) against the bias from the locking position to the open position. 
     
     
       5. The locking device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the catch ( 22 ) comprises a hook ( 221 ) and the follower ( 23 ) comprises a cavity ( 232 ) for housing the hook ( 221 ) in the locking position, and the first connector ( 71 ) is configured to remove the hook ( 221 ) from the cavity ( 232 ) at the first portion of the path. 
     
     
       6. The locking device ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the follower ( 23 ) comprises a guide surface ( 233 ) adjacent to the cavity ( 232 ) for guiding the hook ( 221 ) towards the cavity ( 232 ) when the control member ( 21 ) moves along the path in a second direction that is opposite to a first direction. 
     
     
       7. A locking device ( 1 ) comprising a hook bolt ( 61 ) arranged on a bolt pivot ( 611 ) and comprising hook bolt connectors ( 612 ); and
 a catch mechanism ( 10 ,  10 ′) for blocking a bolt to prevent unauthorized opening of a door, comprising 
 a follower ( 23 ) for operating the hook bolt ( 61 ) between a locked state in which the hook bolt is pivotally extended and an unlocked state in which the hook bolt is pivotally retracted, said follower ( 23 ) comprising follower connectors ( 231 ) pivotally engaging the hook bolt connectors ( 612 ) such that said hook bolt ( 61 ) and follower ( 23 ) are mounted to pivot in opposite directions from one another; 
 a catch ( 22 ) configured to only block the follower ( 23 ) for preventing movement of the hook bolt in the locked state and not directly contact the hook bolt ( 61 ); and 
 a control member ( 21 ) for operating the follower ( 23 ) and the catch ( 22 ); 
 
       wherein
 the catch mechanism ( 10 ,  10 ′) further comprises 
 a first connector ( 71 ) for connecting the control member ( 21 ) to the catch ( 22 ) and operating the catch, the first connector ( 71 ) comprising a first contact surface ( 711 ) on the control member and a second contact surface ( 712 ) on the catch ( 22 ), and 
 a second connector ( 81 ) for connecting the control member ( 21 ) to the follower ( 23 ) and operating the follower ( 23 ) during movement of the control member ( 21 ) along a path, the second connector ( 81 ) comprises an opening ( 812 ) and a protrusion ( 811 ) extending into the opening ( 812 ), the opening ( 812 ) being larger than the protrusion ( 811 ) so that a play is formed in which the protrusion ( 811 ) is able to move without contacting a wall of the opening ( 812 ), and one of the opening ( 812 ) and the protrusion ( 811 ) is arranged on the control member ( 21 ) and the other is arranged on the follower ( 23 ), and 
 the second connector ( 81 ) comprises the play so that the control member ( 21 ) at a first portion of the path operates only the catch ( 22 ) for moving from a locking position to an open position for unblocking the follower ( 23 ), and the control member ( 21 ) at a second portion of said path operates the follower ( 23 ) for moving the hook bolt ( 61 ) from the locked state to the unlocked state, and additionally comprising 
 a wheel ( 51 ) having teeth ( 511 ), 
 a motor ( 42 ), and 
 a cam ( 41 ) arranged to be operated by the motor ( 42 ) and having a rack ( 411 ) configured for cooperating with the teeth ( 511 ) of the wheel ( 51 ), 
 such that linear movement of the cam ( 41 ) is transferred into rotary movement of the wheel ( 51 ) and consequently into linear movement of the control member ( 21 ).